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Show Volume XI_ THE Issue III OGDEN VALLEY NEWS November 15, 2004 Weber County Guest Commentary Environmental Planner’s Corner Lies By Kelly G Weber If you tell a lie often enough and loud enough and with enough conviction, does that make it the truth? In my opinion, the leadership of environmental groups who often take extreme, even radical positions (like the Sierra Club, the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, and Earth First!) regularly misinforms the public about natural resource issues. Their intent appears not to provide factual information so that reasonable people may become knowledgeable about controversial environmental policies. Rather, it seems they deliberately mislead the public about private and commercial uses of natural resources on public land so that their objective, namely elimination of such uses, will be supported and laws changed. And such propaganda is all too often effective. Here are a few examples: Timber harvest and subsequent production of lumber and other forest products is harmful to the environment, to forest health, wildlife habitat, and watershed values. Forest health has suffered in recent years with the decline of effective timber management programs that include timber harvest. Timber harvest, properly applied and administered, is a tool used by professional foresters to achieve desirable timber stand densities (trees per acre) so that remaining trees can make optimum use of available moisture and sunlight and those hcailtiny ixtrees might better resist infestatio ent insects and di “healthy forests” are also more resistant to wildfires because of better spacing and fewer dead trees. And, in fact, such areas provide better wildlife habitat for a variety of species Environmental groups even object to the removal of dead and dying trees that provide a fuel source for the kinds of catastrophic forest fires that have occurred regularly in recent years. They simply object to any private or commercial uses of public resources. They don’t want the “evil timber companies” to make money from trees that grow on public land. They disregard the fact that trees are a renewable resource that provide lumber needed by the public and which, by the way, benefits local, state, and national economies. Threatened and endangered (T and E) and other wildlife species need vast unaltered tracts of land, such as designated Wilderness, to survive. Wildlife is a lot more adaptable to changing habitat conditions than environmental groups wou have you elieve Knowledgeable wildlife biologists work with foresters to assure that post timber harvest wildlife habitat is ses he and needs ofT and E species are providedf Nesting habitat needs of the finedtenel Northern Spotted Owl were originally thought to be limited to “old growth” timber stands. As a result, vast acreages of forest were declared “off limits” to timber harvest, and the economy, as well as forest health, suffere' When it was later learned that the Spotted Owl did quite well, nested and reproduced, in managed stands, the courts were not willing to lift timber harvest restrictions. Mineral extraction is environmentally damaging and harmful to wildlife. Mining operations and oil and gas wells use comparatively small areas of land. While early day mining was often destructive and environmentally unacceptable, mineral companies in recent years have done a superb job of minimizing watershed damage and wildlife habitat impacts. Rehabilitation and restoration provisions have typically resulted in improved wildlife conditions. And the value of minerals produced is a huge economic public benefit. Drilling and 6th Annual Peddlers’ Country Christmas & Shopping Extravaganza 1315 Hwy 158 Eden, UT November 12-14, 2004 More than 20 Utah artists and their wares 17 LCV CCL YL OL www.snowbe rryinn. com Che Snowderr Bed 888-334-3466 oil production in the Artic National Wildlife Range (ANWR) would, in fact, have little or no adverse effects on wildlife. Despite conflicting viewpoints, oil and gas produced there would be a big help to the United States in achieving energy independence. ain, environmental organizations and their “eta allies are simply against oil production R for emotionally based Bui factually unfounded reasons. Past grazing practices were often harmful to the land and to “rangeland health.” Scientifically and ecologically based range management over the past half century, applied by cooperative “grazing permit holders,” have made great strides in eliminating such problems. Properly applied, livestock grazing programs, such as restrotation systems, can and do improve rangelands including wildlife and watershed conditions. Many members of environmental groups are well-intended people who think their ideas are best for forest and rangeland health and “the environment.” Their organizations, however, using lawsuits and lobbying of legislators, are in reality causing harm to the land as well as to the economy of this nation. Their propaganda should be exposed as inaccurate so that the public may learn and understand the scientifically based facts. early everyone cares about assuring environmental quality. We want clean air and water and healthy, productive forests and rangelands. But it is not an “either/or” situation. We can have proper and beneficial natural resource use—and environmental quality. The counter arguments I have listed above are based on personal and professionxperience over a 32 year career of managing natural resources on public land. Stan Tixier, Eden Stan Tixier holds BS and MS degrees in range management from the University of Arizona. A former regional forester of the Intermountain Region, Forest Service, ISDA, he is past president of the Society for Range Management. He raises foxtrotting horses in Eden, Utah, and is a well known cowboy poet. Your Help!!! eae PLANNER’S BURTON “a SNOWBOARDS <A Staff CORNER XX waste’ gear bor up winter DIAMOND PEAK has been your trusted local source ‘or top quality winter sports gear. SKIS AND SNOWBOARDS $399.0 e POWDER SKIS starting as low as ve Iki Got: Legend 8800 © Volkl Gamma 724ext skis / Marker LTbindings Includes FREE mounting and hot wax. $489.00 CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES e Buy oe “Queen (or King) for a Day” contest. e Outfit the whole pire in quality ski coming: Large selection of sizes and styles for juniors and adults. We will be choosing 5 lucky winners to receive a day of pampering and a complete make-over from WINTERSTEIGER Valley Hair Co. a person Ecoles (any person), or| ONS jacket and SKI FREE! SKI OR SNOWBOARD TUNE-UP DON’T TRUST YOUR BOARDS TO JUST ANYONE! START YOUR SEASON OFF RIGHT WITH A HIGH PERFORMANCE TUNE FROM UTAH’S BEST SKI AND SNOWBOARD TECHNICIANS. think of a reason (any reason) and send us a letter telling us why they deserve to be... a A SALOMON To celebrate our 5 year anniversary, we need you to enter someone you love in our So choose cont. on page 8 aa, iz DYAASTAR For over a decade, Needs County Welcome to the Planner’s Corner. Have you ever wondered why sometimes a Land Use Permit is required prior to being able to apply for a Building Permit and sometimes it is not? According to Chapter 30, Section 30-3 of the Weber County Zoning Ordinance, a Land Use Permit is required in order to verify zoning requirements and setbacks for permitted or conditional uses. The section further states that no structure, including agricultural structures, shall be constructed, changed in use, or altered, as provided or as restricted, in the Zoning Ordinance, until and unless a Land Use Permit is approved and issued by the Planning Director. e Land Use Permit is completed on computer by a planner and must be signed at the time of issue. Information included on the Permit is the property owners name, mailing address, the address of the construction site, the zone designation, Land Serial/Tax ID number, total acreage of the lot or parcel, the purpose/use of the structure, and building contractors name and license number. Before the permit is approved, county planners will check for adequate parking, square footage of the proposed structure, as well as the Engineering Department’s information regarding flood elevation, and access and culvert specifications if needed. A drawing on the reverse side of the permit shows the required minimum setbacks from property lines. After this information is completed, the planner adds their signature and the date along with the property owner or contractor’s. Three copies are made: one copy goes to the applicant, and two copies go to the Building Inspections Department with copies of construction plans and wastewater permits. The original permit goes into the permanent file of the Planning Commission. Building Permits are not required for some smaller buildings or bona fide agricultural buildings on five or more acres of land; however a Land Use Permit is always required for any structure. A Land Use Permit may not be issued for an accessory building on less than five (5) acres unless there is a primary structure or dwelling unit on the land. If there is a question about whether or not a Building Permit is required, please call 399-8374 for further information. Certain agricultural uses are exempt from Livestock grazing on public lands should be eliminated to protect “the environmen wildlife and watershed values. Cay Valley Hair Co. Page 3 PERFORMANCE TUNE-UP STONE-GRIND BASE, SHARPEN EDGES & HOT WAX SKIS reg. $27 $22.00° SNOWBOARD $24.00° reg. $29 “p-tex not included - expires 12-10-04 Queen for a Day” Winners will be chosen Nov. 23. Please include your name and phone number along with the name and number of the person you are entering. Entries may be mailed or dropped by the salon Valley Hair Co. 2529 N Hwy. 162 Eden, UT. 84310 745-1979 Located in the heart of the Ogden Valens in Eden, , Loe tor Bohn a DIAMOND mountain just South of Maverick and Valle a2 N a 158, Edel Ea sports MONDAY - SATURDAY 10:00AM - 10:00PM |